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- Oct 10, 2022
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Hi everyone,
New poster, but I’ve been reading for a while! I’m looking for input on whether it makes sense for me to look for a new vet or if I’m potentially overreacting to normal veterinary practice things. Sorry this is so long!
On Nov 15, I had my two 4 month old kittens spayed and neutered (one boy, one girl). The boy is doing great. The girl has had some complications with her spay.
7 days post op, I called my vet begging to have the girl (Selene) evaluated because she had developed a lump the size of a walnut under her incision, seemed to be in pain (wouldn’t squat to pee when that’s her preferred stance), and kept getting poops - solid poops! - stuck in her long butt hair that we were struggling to clean fully because we can’t bathe her until 14+ days after the surgery.
in essence, I called asking for (1) a sanitary shave as no groomer would touch her with the incision, and I was worried about injecting the wound and (2) someone to check this post-op swelling because I know that’s not normal. This was the Tuesday before US thanksgiving (11/22).
They had no openings days off, were closed wed-sun, and told me to “use wet wipes or an old towel you don’t care about” to clean up her bottom. I told them we’d been doing that 2-3x per day for three days and were worried about infection for the second time. I accepted an appointment for this coming Monday (11/28) because it was all they had, and went back to trying to clean Selene’s bottom (no diarrhea, just litter dust + very long hair = stuck turds).
Ten minutes later they called me back, emphasizing that I’d have to pay for the exam and shave separately but they had a cancellation and the “relief vet” could see us. Great! We went. They xrayed to check for a hernia, didn’t see one, and told us she was probably reacting to the sutures. Shaved her. Told me to see the regular vet again this Monday for a recheck, also at my expense. Please note Selene has been either in an xl dog crate or an empty bedroom with only essentials when unsupervised, away from her brother! Even the relief vet said there’s nothing else we could have done. Scheduling has zero openings for Monday or Tuesday despite the relief vet’s recommendation, so we had to opt for Wednesday instead…
Friday (11/25), I become concerned that the lump seems to be unchanged + I’m concerned about redness around the incision, and I opt to have another local vet who IS open re-examine Selene. They asked me to send photos first so they could see if another exam was needed or if it was okay to wait til Wednesday. They saw the photos and said it likely wasn’t an emergency, but to come in if I wanted peace of mind. So off we went! They did a very thorough exam, in front of us. The first vet examines in the back where no one can see, then tells you their findings. During this visit, they indicate that they would’ve taken an X-ray if one weren’t already done and that it’s okay to wait and watch but it could be weeks to months before the lump resolves. They examined her in front of me and agreed it was weird, but most likely a seroma and the wound was healthy/not infected.
They also found that Selene has a retained deciduous tooth that will require more anesthesia for an extraction. I’m unsure how the previous vet didn’t catch this and correct it during the spay - it was SUPER obvious to me when it was pointed out. Now I have to put her under again….
I’m considering switching to the second practice we visited for two reasons. One is the missed deciduous tooth, that should’ve been extracted during her spay (most vets do this here). I guess during the pre-surgery “wellness exam” no one checked her teeth and gums? The other reason is the difficulty with appointment availability and the fact that zero of the practice vets were at the facility for the full week, with relief staff in for only two days… and no way to get in for 8 days even when the relief vet said Selene should be seen within 5-6 days tops.
So… I guess I’m wondering if I’m being unreasonable with my expectations and reasons for wanting to switch? I’m just finding myself frustrated with paying for multiple follow-ups and X-rays while begging to even be seen, even when they’re the ones suggesting the follow up timing. And the missed deciduous tooth! I know anesthesia issues are rare, but putting your babies under is always scary and I hate having to do this twice so close together. Am I being overly demanding or does it make sense to switch? Both vets come with good reputations.
Thanks for any feedback fellow cat parents!
New poster, but I’ve been reading for a while! I’m looking for input on whether it makes sense for me to look for a new vet or if I’m potentially overreacting to normal veterinary practice things. Sorry this is so long!
On Nov 15, I had my two 4 month old kittens spayed and neutered (one boy, one girl). The boy is doing great. The girl has had some complications with her spay.
7 days post op, I called my vet begging to have the girl (Selene) evaluated because she had developed a lump the size of a walnut under her incision, seemed to be in pain (wouldn’t squat to pee when that’s her preferred stance), and kept getting poops - solid poops! - stuck in her long butt hair that we were struggling to clean fully because we can’t bathe her until 14+ days after the surgery.
in essence, I called asking for (1) a sanitary shave as no groomer would touch her with the incision, and I was worried about injecting the wound and (2) someone to check this post-op swelling because I know that’s not normal. This was the Tuesday before US thanksgiving (11/22).
They had no openings days off, were closed wed-sun, and told me to “use wet wipes or an old towel you don’t care about” to clean up her bottom. I told them we’d been doing that 2-3x per day for three days and were worried about infection for the second time. I accepted an appointment for this coming Monday (11/28) because it was all they had, and went back to trying to clean Selene’s bottom (no diarrhea, just litter dust + very long hair = stuck turds).
Ten minutes later they called me back, emphasizing that I’d have to pay for the exam and shave separately but they had a cancellation and the “relief vet” could see us. Great! We went. They xrayed to check for a hernia, didn’t see one, and told us she was probably reacting to the sutures. Shaved her. Told me to see the regular vet again this Monday for a recheck, also at my expense. Please note Selene has been either in an xl dog crate or an empty bedroom with only essentials when unsupervised, away from her brother! Even the relief vet said there’s nothing else we could have done. Scheduling has zero openings for Monday or Tuesday despite the relief vet’s recommendation, so we had to opt for Wednesday instead…
Friday (11/25), I become concerned that the lump seems to be unchanged + I’m concerned about redness around the incision, and I opt to have another local vet who IS open re-examine Selene. They asked me to send photos first so they could see if another exam was needed or if it was okay to wait til Wednesday. They saw the photos and said it likely wasn’t an emergency, but to come in if I wanted peace of mind. So off we went! They did a very thorough exam, in front of us. The first vet examines in the back where no one can see, then tells you their findings. During this visit, they indicate that they would’ve taken an X-ray if one weren’t already done and that it’s okay to wait and watch but it could be weeks to months before the lump resolves. They examined her in front of me and agreed it was weird, but most likely a seroma and the wound was healthy/not infected.
They also found that Selene has a retained deciduous tooth that will require more anesthesia for an extraction. I’m unsure how the previous vet didn’t catch this and correct it during the spay - it was SUPER obvious to me when it was pointed out. Now I have to put her under again….
I’m considering switching to the second practice we visited for two reasons. One is the missed deciduous tooth, that should’ve been extracted during her spay (most vets do this here). I guess during the pre-surgery “wellness exam” no one checked her teeth and gums? The other reason is the difficulty with appointment availability and the fact that zero of the practice vets were at the facility for the full week, with relief staff in for only two days… and no way to get in for 8 days even when the relief vet said Selene should be seen within 5-6 days tops.
So… I guess I’m wondering if I’m being unreasonable with my expectations and reasons for wanting to switch? I’m just finding myself frustrated with paying for multiple follow-ups and X-rays while begging to even be seen, even when they’re the ones suggesting the follow up timing. And the missed deciduous tooth! I know anesthesia issues are rare, but putting your babies under is always scary and I hate having to do this twice so close together. Am I being overly demanding or does it make sense to switch? Both vets come with good reputations.
Thanks for any feedback fellow cat parents!
. 
